I also have a problem with a distorting midrange when playing certain CDs (for instance Louis Armstrong, his voice sounds awful, and some rock CDs).
I have been playing them pretty as probably the former owner also did.
No problem with the subs, although they sound not as powerful as they should be, but maybe i am expecting too much.
A rep from Harmon said one could press on the cone lightly and listen for scraping sound, then press some more back and forth and the sound would get better for a while at least. I have not tried it. He didn't mention why the problem was there, but hinted at overdriving.
I don't know what to do, the info here makes me feel I might as well buy a new set of speakers (and keep the subs).
Any tips are welcomed! (I live in Europe.) The speakers sound really good when on a lot of material (jazz, classical).